AMC introduces bitter taxation dose for amdavadis
Gujarat Global News Network, Ahmedabad
New vehicle owners in the city will now have to pay more vehicle tax as the revenue starved Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has linked the tax with the price of the vehicle.
Two wheelers will have to pay more compared to others. Justifying the increase, AMC says that it would reduce vehicle density on the road.
Instead of the present fix amount lifetime vehicle tax would now be charged according to the price of the vehicle. The proposal has been cleared by the apex body of AMC, Standing Committee in its budget on Friday. Accordingly, two wheelers- scooters, motorcycle- will be charged 2.5% of the basic price. While for all other vehicles the tax would be 1% of the basic price. These include auto rickshaw, loading rickshaw, motorcar and jeep, matador-mini bus, truck and bus. The increased tax would fetch and additional revenue of Rs.20 crore to the AMC.
The AMC has also increased water and conservancy charges of commercial properties. 5% increase has been made which would fetch additional revenue of Rs.22 crore. Municipal Commissioner had proposed 10% increase. Presenting the Rs.4511 crore budget proposals for the year 2012-13, Standing Committee Chairman Bhupendra Patel said that there has been no hike in the water and conservancy charges for residential properties. Gaushalas (panjrapol) have been given complete exemption from property tax while relief has been provided for old age homes.
The AMC will introduce vacant land tax from the next financial year. Though the proposal has been coming in the budget since last three years it would be implemented from this year as it has received nod from the state government, Patel said. This tax is expected to fetch Rs.10 crore. The AMC has also shown Rs.25 crore income through sale of additional FSI.
The budget has few new projects and some old incompleted ones. The AMC plans to generate hydro power energy from waste water being discharged in the river from water and sewerage treatment plants. Two plants would be set up at Raska and Pirana treatment plants at the cost of Rs. 250 lakhs which would produce 54 KV of electricity, he said.
Four new flyover bridges have been proposed in the budget. These include judges bunglow to Sindhu Bhavan, Naroda national highway no.8 railway crossing, two level flyover near Helmet circle and overbridge on Khari river-Vatva-Vivekanand nagar.
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